Five people in the UK were sentenced for wrench attacks on cryptocurrency holders, forcing victims to transfer their crypto assets

The British police announced that five people have been sentenced in a "Wrench Attack" case targeting cryptocurrency holders. The suspects met the victims at a bar in Shoreditch, London, in July 2025, forcibly took them back to their homes, and through violent threats and facial recognition verification, coerced them into accessing their bank and cryptocurrency accounts, stealing over £10,000 in cash, cryptocurrency, and other valuables such as watches.

During the investigation, the cryptocurrency exchange platform Coinbase reported to the police after discovering unusual activity in the victims' accounts. The police subsequently identified and arrested the individuals involved. The court ultimately sentenced four main offenders to prison terms ranging from 3.5 to 6.5 years, while another individual involved was sentenced to community service for money laundering. The police stated that this case has caused long-term psychological trauma to the victims and their families, highlighting the rising risk of offline violent crimes against cryptocurrency asset holders.